Toner case and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A toner case includes a case main body, a conveying member and a transmitting member. The case main body is configured to store a toner and has a discharge port for the toner. The conveying member is configured to rotate around a rotation axis extending along a rotation axis direction and to convey the toner in the case main body to the discharge port. The transmitting member is configured to transmit rotation to the conveying member. The conveying member is movable along the rotation axis direction with respect to the transmitting member between a coupling position where the conveying member is coupled to the transmitting member and a release position where a coupling of the conveying member to the transmitting member is released.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A toner case comprising:
 a case main body configured to store a toner and having a discharge port for the toner; 
 a conveying member configured to rotate around a rotation axis extending along a rotation axis direction and to convey the toner in the case main body to the discharge port; and 
 a transmitting member configured to transmit rotation to the conveying member, 
 wherein the conveying member is movable along the rotation axis direction with respect to the transmitting member between a coupling position where the conveying member is coupled to the transmitting member and a release position where a coupling of the conveying member to the transmitting member is released, and 
 wherein the conveying member opens the discharge port in a state where the conveying member is in the coupling position, and 
 the conveying member closes the discharge port in a state where the conveying member is in the release position. 
 
     
     
       2. The toner case according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper mechanism configured to restrict movement of the conveying member from the release position to the coupling position. 
     
     
       3. The toner case according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the stopper mechanism includes: 
 one end wall in the rotation axis direction of the case main body; and 
 a hook provided in the conveying member, 
 when the conveying member moves from the coupling position to the release position, the hook passes through a through hole provided in the one end wall to restrict the movement of the conveying member from the release position to the coupling position. 
 
     
     
       4. The toner case according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein a box-shaped housing part is protruded from the one end wall so as to cover the through hole from an outside in the rotation axis direction, and 
 when the conveying member moves from the coupling position to the release position, the hook is stored in the housing part. 
 
     
     
       5. The toner case according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the conveying member includes: 
 a conveying shaft configured to extend along the rotation axis direction; and 
 a spiral conveying blade provided around an outer circumference of the conveying shaft, 
 wherein the hook is provided at one end portion in the rotation axis direction of the conveying shaft. 
 
     
     
       6. The toner case according to  claim 1 , usable as a waste toner box storing a waste toner after the toner case is used as a toner container storing a fresh toner. 
     
     
       7. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 the toner case according to  claim 1 ; and 
 an attachment part to which the toner case is detachably attached. 
 
     
     
       8. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a development device to which the toner is replenished from the toner case; 
 a position detecting part configured to detect a position of the conveying member; and 
 a notification part configured to notify a user that a toner replenishment operation from the toner case to the development device is restricted when the position detecting part detects that the conveying member is in the release position. 
 
     
     
       9. A toner case comprising:
 a case main body configured to store a toner and having a discharge port for the toner; 
 a conveying member configured to rotate around a rotation axis extending along a rotation axis direction and to convey the toner in the case main body to the discharge port; 
 a transmitting member configured to transmit rotation to the conveying member; and 
 a manipulation member, at least a part of the manipulation member being provided outside the case main body, 
 wherein the conveying member is movable along the rotation axis direction with respect to the transmitting member between a coupling position where the conveying member is coupled to the transmitting member and a release position where a coupling of the conveying member to the transmitting member is released, and 
 wherein as the manipulation member is manipulated, the conveying member moves from the coupling position to the release position. 
 
     
     
       10. A toner case comprising:
 a case main body configured to store a toner and having a discharge port for the toner; 
 a conveying member configured to rotate around a rotation axis extending along a rotation axis direction and to convey the toner in the case main body to the discharge port; 
 a transmitting member configured to transmit rotation to the conveying member; and 
 a shutter configured to open and close the discharge port, 
 wherein the conveying member is movable along the rotation axis direction with respect to the transmitting member between a coupling position where the conveying member is coupled to the transmitting member and a release position where a coupling of the conveying member to the transmitting member is released, and 
 wherein as the shutter closes the discharge port, the conveying member moves from the coupling position to the release position. 
 
     
     
       11. The toner case according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the shutter is displaceable among 
 a first position where the shutter closes the discharge port and positions the conveying member to the coupling position, 
 a second position where the shutter opens the discharge port and positions the conveying member to the coupling position, and 
 a third position where the shutter closes the discharge port and positions the conveying member to the release position. 
 
     
     
       12. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a toner case including:
 a case main body configured to store a toner and having a discharge port for the toner; 
 a conveying member configured to rotate around a rotation axis extending along a rotation axis direction and to convey the toner in the case main body to the discharge port; and 
 a transmitting member configured to transmit rotation to the conveying member, an attachment part to which the toner case is detachably attached; 
 
 a controller configured to determine whether the case main body is in a toner empty state or not; and 
 an operation member configured to move the conveying member from the coupling position to the release position when the controller determines that the case main body is in the toner empty state, 
 wherein the conveying member is movable along the rotation axis direction with respect to the transmitting member between a coupling position where the conveying member is coupled to the transmitting member and a release position where a coupling of the conveying member to the transmitting member is released; and 
 the operation member is provided at the attachment part.